With the end it sight, it is useful to reflect on areas of your teaching that we can address in class. Classroom management seems to be an issue that many of you are concerned about. Classroom management is also a big topic. List two to three management challenges you are are trying to improve at this time. Briefly describe some of the techniques that you have already tried. Describe what a class period will look like when these problems are "solved."
Ah.... Classroom Management. I feel like this will be a never ending challenge. All students (or classes) are NOT created equally. Something may work for some students, but not others. Some strategies may work for some teachers, but not for others. Most importantly, Classroom management strategies will not work if they do not coincide with the teacher's personality. Students will notice if it is a stretch for the teacher to employ such stratigies and it will show through with inconsistency and lack of follow-through. I feel every year students are more challenging and harder to engage. It keeps us on our toes, I guess.
Some main Ideas about Classroom Management that I feel are vital are the following:
- Clearly defined standards and expectations that are true to your personality and what you feel is acceptable
- Consistency
- Follow Through
- Sticking to your personality and ideals about managing a classroom and the classroom environment that you feel most appropriate.
If you do all this, I feel classroom management will work.
HOWEVER, I've been stuck in 'the game of student teaching' when it comes to student teaching. My cooperating teacher does things differently in her class than I would normally do. I have not been given the chance to present myself as a teacher more than an extra person in the room. Also, my teacher has expected me to pick up where she left off in a sense of managing the class. This is bad news when it comes to student teaching. I am stuck in a swirling vortex of being uncomfortable and out of control. Basically it is hard to be consistent and follow through when what your doing is crap in your mind.
On the plus side, my students do listen to me, and once I get going they pay full attention to me. I'm not sure I can get out of this game, but I will be ever trying. If my teacher starts to leave the room, perhaps I can establish a sense of authority.
What I have Tried
Why it worked
Why it didn't work
1. Yelling to get the students' attention
The shock factor: "WOW Ms. Leigh just yelled.
The shock factor didn't last, nor did the students care that they were supposed to fix their behavior. It is also out of my comfort zone. So I didn't do it most of the time.
2. Waiting for students to notice me with annoyed look
students knew I meant buisness, and realized I wasn't impressed with their behavior.
The true talkers were in their own little world and don't notice. For those I'd have to call their names specifically to redirect them.
3. Removing students from my class
It sent the message that I will follow through.
It's disruptive and embarrassing for the student. If I did it consistently, I'd never have a class. I've had a lot of talkers and a lot of students that really don't mind being kicked out. Then there is the whole thing where students miss the material.
4. Silent cues
Moving through the room and tapping on a students desk while I'm talking or giving them a look sends the message without disrupting what I am doing or making a scene in the class. Works well for one or two students being disruptive here and there.
Some students have verbal diharrea and really don't know what to stop talking.
5. Predetermining groups.
I would assign groups so that friends and talkers are not together. I'd pair a talker with a non talker and whom ever else I thought would contribute well.
Sometimes making groups ahead of time isn't convenient, so I'd resort to the count off method. I'd make this work by redirecting the counting to avoid certain students being in the same group. but I couldn't always avoid pairing to behavior problems.
If I master my skills and solve all these problems: Students will have a set routine that they will know to follow. Seats will be arranged to foster and open style classroom with seats assigned to minimize behaviors. Activities will also be tailors to keep students engaged. We all know students misbehave most when they are bored and unengaged. Students will know the expectations and consequences from the very first day of the class and consequences will be followed through. I will scaffold silent clues for the students to try and aviod class disruptions.
Ah.... Classroom Management. I feel like this will be a never ending challenge. All students (or classes) are NOT created equally. Something may work for some students, but not others. Some strategies may work for some teachers, but not for others. Most importantly, Classroom management strategies will not work if they do not coincide with the teacher's personality. Students will notice if it is a stretch for the teacher to employ such stratigies and it will show through with inconsistency and lack of follow-through. I feel every year students are more challenging and harder to engage. It keeps us on our toes, I guess.
Some main Ideas about Classroom Management that I feel are vital are the following:
- Clearly defined standards and expectations that are true to your personality and what you feel is acceptable
- Consistency
- Follow Through
- Sticking to your personality and ideals about managing a classroom and the classroom environment that you feel most appropriate.
If you do all this, I feel classroom management will work.
HOWEVER, I've been stuck in 'the game of student teaching' when it comes to student teaching. My cooperating teacher does things differently in her class than I would normally do. I have not been given the chance to present myself as a teacher more than an extra person in the room. Also, my teacher has expected me to pick up where she left off in a sense of managing the class. This is bad news when it comes to student teaching. I am stuck in a swirling vortex of being uncomfortable and out of control. Basically it is hard to be consistent and follow through when what your doing is crap in your mind.
On the plus side, my students do listen to me, and once I get going they pay full attention to me. I'm not sure I can get out of this game, but I will be ever trying. If my teacher starts to leave the room, perhaps I can establish a sense of authority.
If I master my skills and solve all these problems: Students will have a set routine that they will know to follow. Seats will be arranged to foster and open style classroom with seats assigned to minimize behaviors. Activities will also be tailors to keep students engaged. We all know students misbehave most when they are bored and unengaged. Students will know the expectations and consequences from the very first day of the class and consequences will be followed through. I will scaffold silent clues for the students to try and aviod class disruptions.